Sarah Smith

Each morning, I begin my day by opening the French window of my studio apartment in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I am greeted by views of towering mountains on the horizon and the golden peak of the famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple glittering against the lush green background. Although Chiang Mai is the second-largest city in Thailand, with a population of around 1.5 million people, you won’t see high-rises dominating the skyline. Instead, the ruins of ancient moat walls and crumbling Buddhist stupas continue to thrive, keeping Thai history alive against a backdrop of modern development.